The Women: The Bestselling, Unforgettable Novel That Has Captured Millions of...

"The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn't quite yet ready to hear it, and their story began with three simple words. - We were there" Enlightening, informative and a fitting tribute to the female service women and medical staff who served in Vietnam, but whose voice was never heard because ‘no women were there’. Kristin Hannah is an author who always demonstrates the immense healing power through storytelling, where voices are no longer silent, and in this book ‘The Women’, she has written a fabulous heartbreaking story and an eye opening account of events in Vietnam that conquers without coercion and agitates without exaggerating. The Plot - Many know something of the war in Vietnam, yet many like me knew little of the number of the women in service and the female medical staff who suffered, endured, and lived through that conflict. Frankie brings to life the role and treatment of women, who until later years were barely acknowledged despite the crucial role many played in the war. While the men were branded heroes, the country was dishonourably quiet about the role that their women played. Women who witnessed many of the same horrors, lost their lives, and endured injuries like many men but to American citizens – they weren’t even there. This very human story of Frankie took us on a journey through this distressing period in history, and takes us through the decision to sign up, how her family relationships became strained with the decision, and then the impact on her because of her parent’s lack of support, particularly her fathers. Add to that the loss of the three men in Frankie's life, her brother and her two loves and her re-integration back into society and 'normal' life and we have one of the most memorable historical fiction books I have ever read. Review and Comments - 'The Women' is an exquisite novel that will leave imprints on your heart and in your mind a long time after reading, not just about the brutality of war and loss on both sides, but the treatment and deafening silence about the role the women played. The book has an abundance of great characters, particularly Frankie who was portrayed as a very human person. An incredible woman, strong, determined, and courageous with an enormous capacity for love and forgiveness, but who for years suffered from the effects of war and because she ‘was not there’ never received the care and support needed to prevent PTSD. The storyline is superb, and the writing style is stunning. Historical fiction at its best as Kristin Hannah manages to hold a mirror up to society displaying themes of corruption, dishonour, loss, tragedy, PTSD, family relationships, and isolation as women and society struggled to contend and confront the very harsh reality of the story of ‘The Women’ in Vietnam. An awakening for many, then and now. An authentic account of an unforgotten and untold story. Sometimes brutal, sometimes beautiful. They were there.

Frankie’s life is supposed to follow a certain path. Raised by conservative parents, Frankie can be a nurse until she catches the eye of a man who will marry her, then they shall make babies and maybe live happily ever after. But when her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, Frankie decides to diverge from the path her parents have laid out for her, and follow her brother’s instead. She joins the Army Nurses Corps and arrives in Vietnam, as green as green can be. Frankie’s experiences in Vietnam are harrowing for sure. The chaos and destruction is utterly overwhelming. It is remarkably easy to visualise these events in front of your eyes. Men who have lost limbs, who are bleeding from brutal wounds, who are calling out for their mothers while they lie dying in the middle of nowhere. Frankie quite quickly adjusts; she has very little choice; and realises being a nurse is definitely her calling. Along the way she makes friends with Ethel and Barb. Two very different ladies from different backgrounds, but this is a friendship forged in extraordinary circumstances and they will pull one another through on many occasions. In the midst of all this destruction, Frankie will find romance but heartbreak also. As distressing as it is to read about these atrocities, what really angered me was what happened when Frankie returned home. There is no heroes welcome. But more than that, there is no help available to her when she starts to struggle. “There were no women in Vietnam”. Not only were the male veterans forgotten, the female ones apparently didn’t even exist. This story isn’t just about Frankie. It’s about all the women who put their lives in danger, who made sacrifices and did their bit in a war many people were opposed to. ‘The Women‘ is engrossing from beginning to end and often highly emotional. There were a few times where I thought I’d need a tissue. It’s naturally completely realistic and believable. Apart from the R & R, which I know happened, but it seems entirely surreal. To think you can go spend a week on a nice beach for a break while you’re supposed to be in the middle of a war. I can’t imagine the research that must have gone into this. Frankie and her friends are memorable characters, and even the romance angle had me hooked. Like with any other novel by Kristin Hannah I’ve read, I can never put into words why I love her stories so much and I’m definitely not doing this latest novel any justice. ‘The Women‘ is really and truly historical fiction from the top shelf. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Kristin Hannah. She’s an amazing storyteller and her beautiful writing is just captivating. This story is powerful, full of insight and immensely compelling. A story of survival, and undoubtedly a story that needed to be told for all the heroic women out there. Past, present and future. Highly recommended!

Eminently readable and interesting story of the Vietnam War from the point of view of a young US Army nurse dealing with multiple major casualty events in a challenging climate and with lack of medical personnel and equipment . Interesting perspective on the pros and cons of warfare and the damage done to all parties, with contrast between the political aspect of this conflict and the practical repercussions. A very good example of what we now call PTSD is described with insight and compassion. Sensitive topics dealt with sympathetically. I am only half way through, but look forward to satisfying conclusion.

One of the best books I have ever read. Made me laugh and cry. Didn't want it to end. Fantastic. Would recommend to all readers

It's hard to put this heart breaking, heart warming story about Frances, also known as Frank and Frank ie, a nurse who naively travelled to Vietnam to be a hero, like her brother. Not for the faint hearted, you are plunged into war torn medical camps, feel the pain of blown up bodies, gun shot wounds, burns and horrific injuries, but you want the nurses and doctors to pull the soldiers through their traumas. From rocket attacks, Napalm burns, orphaned children, to friendships like no other, follow Frank and her new best friends navigate a man's world, fight for their survival both in country and back home. Feel the outrage as their sacrifices are shunned, spat on, ignored! There are No women in the Vietnam war! This book is a tribute to all who served their country, however they served, from helicopter pilots evacuating wounded soldiers, to men dragging their wounded comrades miles to get treatment, to the physically and mentally exhausted medics, corpse men, doctors and nurses. You are immersed into the horror, the love, the laughter, as well as the tears, the silence, the PTSD, and the addiction. Have your tissues ready...... Wow! What a way to bring history to life!

This book is a testament to the strength and courage of the women who served as nurses in Vietnam. How they were treated and disregarded on their return home was another battle they had to fight. They just to wanted to at least be acknowledged and remembered, and not be constantly told that "there were no women in 'Nam." Stunning read, and I would definitely recommend this book.

Spoilers included. The Women - or should that be The Woman as it was mostly about Frankie? I loved it but it was certainly a book of two halves. I enjoyed the first part more which was set in Vietnam. The second half was rather sensationalist and a little unrealistic, as how could one character have so many bad things happen to her? I did absolutely love the spotlight on the themes. This book was very strong in exposing political corruption, social and economic unrest, discrimination in both race and the treatment of mental health and how women were not treated as equals, even by their own gender. All struggles still faced today unfortunately. Themes: * Societal conditioning and expectations that girls should grow up to fit into a predetermined role, ultimately serving men * Discrimination: sexism, racism, misogyny, mental health, classism * Patriotism, hero worshiping male figures, assigned gender roles * Addiction, PTSD, lack of recognition of post war conditions and treatment requirements regardless of gender * Socio-political: the people vs. the establishment, fighting the patriarchy * Freedom of speech and the right to protest and influence change * Government corruption and the credibility gap, of their lack of reporting of the number of US casualties and the justification of continuing the war in Vietnam. Key Takeaways: * Lovers, Lies and Politics: Both of Frankie's romantic relationships were a metaphor and echoed what was felt by the American people at the time. Rye's lies, selfishness and deception towards Frankie, reflected how the US government had lied to the people. There were breaches of trust both personally for Frankie and by the government she had sworn to serve in her idealism. Frankie and Jamie's relationship was born out of trauma. It was a sad, futile and defeatist love. It was depressing and desperate, it was unfulfilling and felt unobtainable. Much like how the American people felt when they marched and protested to stop to the war. Nothing they could do could sway the government. * Frankie's character arc summed up: "The naïve, idealistic girl who volunteered for war is gone. In a very real way she died over there." (p426). "She'd gone to war a patriot and come home a pariah." (p426). * Misogyny and patriarchy: Frankie represented the struggles of a sheltered woman, who lost her innocence and then was denied her voice in her time of need. She was continually told she should have known her place and not caused a fuss. Her character highlighted how women are not viewed or treated as equals and are often underestimated. While the book was set in the 60s, 70s and 80s, it holds a mirror up that to this day, still reflects the equality issues women face. The US under Trump's administration, is regressing with legislation that steps back women's rights and body autonomy. It's turning into Gilead! * Stoicism and the stiff upper lip: the idea and the stigma that it was not okay to talk about mental health issues. To not ask for help. The 'put up and shut up' attitude. The social conditioning of burying trauma and just getting on with life. The lack of support, empathy and affection shown by parents who had served / experienced WWII. They got through it, so why can't you? * Dehumanisation and racism: anyone who was Vietnamese or looked Vietnamese was fair game to be killed, even children. The enemy looked different, therefore all oriental people were the enemy. This was mirrored by the way the US government viewed and treated the anti-war protesters too. Free game for the US police to use violence and kill protesters. The 'them and us' mentality. Critical analysis after I read some of the two star Amazon reviews: *Chick-bait, which undermined the tragedies and heroic efforts of those who served. - False as it's historical fiction. It's natural for an author of fiction, to sensationalise characters and plot lines. Read a memoir if you want 100% factual accuracy. Authors have free licence to weave a fictional story around historical facts. * Barb and Ethel seemed to be readily available to drop what they were doing, jump on a plane and rescue Frankie from her latest drama. - True and air flights back then were extremely expensive, Barb in particular wouldn't have been able to afford them. * That Barb and Ethel as characters lacked depth and were stereotypical and one dimensional. - True, the fact Barb was black and her brother was killed in a race / war protest riot was huge. A missed opportunity here to really expand on the racism and socio-political tensions at the time. It seemed this was skimmed over, even though civil rights activist Martin Luther King was assassinated. Much more could have been done with Barb's character and story. Ethel was even weaker in her supporting role. * 'Their friendships changed lives,' was one of the cover quotes, but really The Women was just The Woman and focused mostly on Frankie. - True, she did not spearhead the campaign for the creation of the Women's War memorial at Washington DC. The second half of the book focused more on personal tragedy, rather than the bigger picture. Again, a missed opportunity.

I’ve read a lot of books this year, and I kept holding off on giving any of them a 10/10, waiting for the one that truly deserved it. The Women is that book. From the very first page, the story gripped me and never let go. It explores naivety, love, war, grief, trauma, friendship, and hope with such depth, all while perfectly capturing the era in which it’s set. Kristin Hannah has quickly become my favourite writer, not just for her beautiful prose, but for her ability to pull the reader fully into the world she creates. I felt every emotion Frankie went through. I grieved with her as she lost her innocence, her sense of self, her relationships, and the life she once imagined. Hannah doesn’t just tell a story, she makes you live it. The Women is absolutely a must read.

An incredible story, brilliantly told. Kristin tells this story as though actually there and makes such a moving, sad, emotional impact, the telling of a story i was little aware of, even though a child in those years. This was a great bookclub choice, with many facets to discuss; love, infidelity, mortality, morality, addiction, parental disappointment, expectation and joy and happiness in the face of the everyday horrors of reality. You will fall in and out of love with these characters and understand every perspective.

I admit I'm not an emotional reader. It takes a lot me make me shed tears while reading, but the ending of this book was surprisinly emotional for me. I love reading historical novels, but I knew little about the Vietnam War and its outcomes to the soldiers and nurses who ventured in there in service. A really good book that like many other that I've been reading, show the forgotten role of women in wars that marked a whole generation.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Riveting Tribute to Courage and Sisterhood The Women by Kristin Hannah is an extraordinary novel that immerses readers in the untold stories of women who served in the Vietnam War. Through the eyes of Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse from a privileged background, we witness her transformation as she leaves behind her sheltered life to serve in a war-torn country. The narrative delves deep into her experiences, capturing the chaos and camaraderie of the battlefield, as well as the profound challenges faced upon returning home. Hannah masterfully portrays the complexities of war, not just in combat but in the emotional and psychological toll it takes on those who serve. The bond between Frankie and her fellow nurses, Barb and Ethel, is heartwarming and authentic, showcasing the strength found in sisterhood amidst adversity. The novel also addresses the often-overlooked contributions of women in the military, shedding light on their sacrifices and the struggles they faced both during and after the war. The writing is evocative, drawing readers into the turbulent era with vivid descriptions and compelling characters. Hannah’s meticulous research and attention to detail bring authenticity to the story, making it both informative and deeply moving. The Women is a testament to resilience, friendship, and the enduring spirit of those who serve. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction that honors the unsung heroes of our past.

Me gustó mucho, la historia es dura, escrita de forma que se lee fácilmente, muchas emociones, toca temas difíciles de forma entretenida y que invita a seguir leyendo.

I finished The Women by Kristin Hannah with tears in my eyes. From about halfway through the book until the very end, I found myself constantly emotional. It is one of those stories that slowly pulls you in and then refuses to let go. The novel follows Frankie McGrath, a young woman who volunteers as a nurse during the Vietnam War. Through her story, the reader sees not only the brutality of war but also the emotional scars that follow soldiers long after they return home. What struck me most is how the book shines a light on the often forgotten role of women in the war. Their courage, trauma, and sacrifices are portrayed with honesty and depth. Kristin Hannah’s writing is very immersive. She manages to balance historical detail with deeply personal storytelling, which makes the characters feel real and relatable. The friendships Frankie builds, the challenges she faces, and the struggles she experiences after returning home are described in a way that feels authentic and heartbreaking. Overall, The Women is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel. It is emotional, sometimes painful to read, but ultimately very powerful. I’m really glad I read it, even though it left me crying for a good part of the story.